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The Dolphins have a few key players headed to free agency. Lamar Miller is one that the Dolphins should offer a new contract to.

The NFL is a pass-centric league and teams typically put most of their
chips on the quarterback. A running back that can run, block and catch
like Miller should not be taken lightly by the Dolphins.

An excellent football site is Pro Football Focus. Players are rated with
a grading system. Lamar Miller is ranked second, by a small margin,
from being the top free agent running back.

Sort that free agent list by age, youngest to oldest, and Miller, 24, is the youngest player at any position
with a top grade in free agency, 85.6. The highest free agent grade of
94 belongs to Von Miller and Olivier Vernon. If the Dolphins are truly
intent on developing their own talent, Miller's a keeper.

Our nemesis in the division is looking for a running back, please Miami,
don't disrespect Miller so that he comes back to haunt us twice a year
as a Patriot!

Super Bowl MVP Von Miller is a free agent, but there's no way he becomes
a Dolphin. Denver will probably give him the franchise tag. However,
the Dolphins may have their own version of a Von Miller-type player
under contract.

That player is Dion Jordan, the top outside linebacker prospect in the 2013 draft. Naturally, Miami him at defensive end!

Before you lose your cool about this comparison, look at the measurables
from the combine. Yes, the combine results from these two is highly
irrelevant at this point in time, but it's the best way to show their
similarities.

Miller was the second pick of the 2011 draft, Jordan was the third pick of the 2013 draft.

Miller 6'-3" 246 lbs., Jordan 6'-6" 275 lbs.

40-yard dash - Miller 4.53s, (2nd best linebacker) Jordan 4.54s.

Vertical jump - Miller 37 in..(3rd best) Jordan 32.5 in.

Broad jump - Miller 10 ft. 6 in.(1st), Jordan 10 ft. 2 in.

On paper, it's intriguing. Jordan may have the skills, but we still
don't know if Jordan will ever be an outside linebacker or play another
down for the Dolphins.

Free agency begins at the conclusion of the Super Bowl. Considering
that's less than a week away, let's look at how the Dolphins have spent
their cap. We'll focus first on defense.

The Dolphins spent 57.13% of their cap on defense.

Four defensive tackles
take up a league high 20.96% of the cap. As you fans all know,
Ndamukong Suh accounts for 17.79% of that. The other three are Earl
Mitchell(2.18%), Jordan Phillips(0.62%) and DeAndre Coleman(0.37%).

At defensive end,
the Dolphins spent 10.77% on four players. The bulk of that belongs to
Cameron Wake(6.10%) and Dion Jordan(3.86%). The other two are Damontre
Moore(0.44%) and Terence Fede(0.38%).

The five Cornerbacks
costs the Dolphins 9.45% of the cap. Brent Grimes accounts for 5.91% of
it. The others, Brice McCain(2.18%), Jamar Taylor(0.72%), Bobby
McCain(0.36%) and Tyler Davis(0.28%).

The Dolphins spent 9.05% on their five outside linebackers.
Quinton Coples leads the way with 4.82%, followed by Koa Misi at 3.03%.
The others, Jelani Jenkins(0.49%), Chris McCain(0.37%) and Neville
Hewitt(0.33%).

At strong safety, the Dolphins spent 5.38%. Reshad Jones has 5.10% of that and the rest goes to Dax Swanson(0.28%).

Three inside linebackers take up 1.08% of the cap with Terrell Manning, Zach Vigil and Mike Hull.

Walt Aikens is the only free safety and he counts 0.44% against the cap.

Suh,
Wake, Jordan, Grimes, Coples and Jones are the most expensive players.
These six account for 71.33% of the Dolphins defensive cap space. Suh
and Jones are keepers, but questions abound about the Dolphins futures
of the other four.